Wall cabinet

ABSTRACT

A SELF CONCEALING WALL CABINET ADAPTED TO BE FITTED INTO A WALL RECESS. THE CABINET IS PROVIDED WITH A HINGEDLY MOUNTED CLOSURE PANEL FOR COVERING THE OPENING OF THE CABINET AND WHICH IS UTILIZED AS A SERVING PLATFORM OR BAR WHEN EXTENDED. A SUPPORT IN THE FORM OF A DECORATIVE PLAQUE IS SUSPENDED IN FRONT OF THE CLOSURE PANEL IN ITS HORIZONTAL EXTENDED POSITION OF USE.

p 19-71 .T. H. BENNETT 3,606,509

WALL CABINET Filed Sept. 18, 1969 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I.

INVENTOR. THOMAS H. BENNETT MMQW ATTORNEYS Spt. 20, 1971 1'. 1-1.. BENNETT WALL CABINET 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 18, 1969 mm ml mm INVENTOR. THOMAS H. BENNETT M+8WW ATTORNEYS 3,606,509 WALL CABINET Thomas H. Bennett, 202 DeWitt St., Buffalo, NY. 14213 Filed Sept. 18, 1969, Ser. No. 858,941 Int. Cl. A47b 67/02, 85

US. Cl. 312242 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A self concealing wall cabinet adapted to be fitted into a wall recess. The cabinet is provided with a hingedly mounted closure panel for covering the opening of the cabinet and which is utilized as a serving platform or bar when extended. A support in the form of a decorative plaque is suspended in front of the closure panel in its horizontal extended position of use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to wall cabinets and, more particularly, to a wall cabinet adapted to be mounted in a wall recess or built into a room wall as an integral part thereof.

The provision of small bars and liquor cabinets in homes, oflices, pleasure boats and the like has found increasing acceptance in recent years. In the more expensive and larger homes, such facilities are generally found in a separate room, such as a recreation room, a lounge room or the like. Where such accommodations are not feasible, liquor or other social beverages are stored in any available space such as food cabinets, sink cabinets etc., and served on conventional tables or trays. In some instances, particularly where space is at a premium, such as in an efliciency apartment or a small office, separate storage cabinets may be placed in any convenient location to store these beverages. Not only do such facilities take up valuable space, but they also detract from the decor of the room.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a space saving wall cabinet mounted in a wall recess which is self-concealing when not in use.

It is another object of this invention to provide the foregoing wall cabinet with a hinged decorative closure for concealing the cabinet within the wall when not in use and which serves as a bar or serving platform when extended into an operative position of use.

The wall cabinet of the present invention is adapted to be fitted into a wall recess or built into a room wall as an integral part thereof and is characterized by the provision of a hingedly mounted closure panel for covering and concealing the opening of the cabinet and which can be utilized as a serving platform or bar when extended into a horizontal position of use. A support is pivotally mounted on the closure panel for supporting the same in its extended position and which is formed into a decorative configuration to give an attractive appearance when disposed forwardly of the closure panel in its upright closed position.

The foregoing and other objects, advantages and characterizing features of the present invention will become clearly apparent from the ensuing detailed description of an illustrative embodiment thereof, taken together with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals denote like parts throughout the various views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of Wall cabinet constructed in accordance with this inven- 3,606,509 Patented Sept. 20, 1971 tion, showing certain parts in an unfolded or extended position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the wall cabinet of FIG. 1 with parts thereof shown in the closed or collapsed position;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view illustrating the closure and the support therefor in an upright position; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view illustrating the closure and the support therefor in an extended position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now in detail to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a wall cabinet, comprehensively designated 10 and illustrated with the parts thereof in an extended position, comprising an enclosure of generally rectangular shape suitably mounted in the recess of a wall 11 and having a top wall v12, at bottom Wall 14, a rear wall [[6, and a pair of side walls 18 and 20 defining a compartment 22 for storing liquor and/or beverage containers and accessory equipment such as an ice bucket, containers for stirrers, napkins and the like. It should be appreciated that the wall cabinet of this invention is of general utility for storing any variety of products and is in no manner limited in use for storing and serving beverages.

Mounted within the upper portion of compartment 22 is a smaller cabinet 24 having a pair of closure doors 26 and 28 suitably hinged to the opposite sides of the forward portion of cabinet 24. A series of horizontally extending shelves (not shown) can be arranged at any desired vertical spacing in cabinet 24 for supporting glasses and the like.

A rectangularly shaped border frame 30 is secured to the front of wall cabinet 10 adjacent the open end thereof and projects laterally outwardly from the marginal edge of compartment 22. Wall cabinet 10* is adapted to be fitted within a recess provided in a wall or partition of a room, the recess having a sufficient height, width and depth to snugly receive wall cabinet 10 with frame 30 resting against the wall surface adjacent the marginal edges of the recess.

A closure 32 is provided for the opening of compartment 22 and comprises a rectangularly shaped, generally flat panel having an upper fiat surface 34 and a lower fiat surface 35. Closure 32 is hingedly mounted adjacent the bottom of frame 30 for swinging movement between a closed, collapsed, upright position and an extended horizontal position about a pivot means, such as piano hinges 36 for example. Means are provided to releasably secure closure 32 to frame 30 in the compartment closing position, such means comprising a magnetic insert 38 secured within a recess on the upper flat surface 34 of closure 32 and adapted to engage a permanent magnet in the form of a rod 42 depending from top wall 12 of wall cabinet 10 adjacent the opening of compartment 22. In this manner, closure 32 is retained in an upright position against frame 30. It should be noted that the peripheral edges of closure 32 project laterally outwardly of the compartrnent opening so as to rest against frame 30 in the closed position as shown in FIG. 2.

Means are provided for supporting closure 32 in a horizontal position as shown in FIG. 1, such means comprising a bar support, generally designated 48, in the form of a decorative plaque of artistic configuration pivotally mounted adjacent the flat under surface 35 of closure 32 adjacent its distal end. Support 48 is of a generally rectangular shape having a pair of parallel elongated bars or support legs 52 and 54 and a pair of crossbars 56 and 58 connecting the opposite ends of support legs 52 and 54. A pair of rigidifying or grace crossbars 60 and 62 extend between legs 52 and 54 adjacent the opposite ends thereof and a series of crossbars 64 extend between said legs intermediate the opposite ends thereof. An elongated bar 66 having a loop 68 at the lower end thereof is secured to intermediate crossbar 64 to enhance the appearance of support 48 and provide a decorative, artistic configuration. Loop 68 also serves as a handle which may be gripped by the users fingers to pull closure 32 and position the same in. its horizontally extended position of use, in which case it is utilized as a serving bar on which beverages may be prepared and served. It should be understood that support 48 may take various shapes and configurations to represent any attractive design desired, the important factor being that such support provide adequate stability and load bearing support for closure 32 in its horizontal position.

Support 48 is pivotally mounted on a pair of laterally spaced brackets, generally designated 70, mounted on the flat undersurface 35 of closure 32 adjacent the distal end thereof. Each bracket 70 comprises a lug 72 secured to closure 32 as by means of screws 74 and a projection 76 extending outwardly from closure 32 and terminating in a rounded hinge portion 78 for receiving crossbar 60. Thus, support 48 is swung about a horizontally extending pivot axis defined by crossbar 60 and rounded portions 78 of brackets 70.

Wall cabinet and closure 32 are preferably formed of wood and can be stained or painted any desired color in accordance with the adjacent wall surface. Of course, cabinet 10 and closure 32 can be composed of any suitable material desired, such as a light metal or some type of fiber or plastic, such as Masonite, for example. Bar support 48, which presents the appearance of a decorative Wall plaque, is preferably formed of brass tubing with bars 52, 54, 55, 58, 60, 62, 64 and 66 suitably bonded or otherwise fixedly secured to each other. Again, the material of which bar support 48 is composed can vary, as desired.

When not in use, closure 32 is positioned against frame as shown in FIG. 2, with support 48 depending vertically downwardly by gravity from rounded portions 78 of brackets 70. Support 48 hangs freely in a generally vertical plane spaced forwardly of surface of closure 32 as shown in FIG. 3. The decorative design of support 48 gives the appearance of a wall plaque and can be varied in configuration and color compatible with the decor of the room in which it is used. Closure 32 is held in the upright position by the attraction force between permanent magnet 42 and metallic insert 38.

To open wall cabinet 10 and extend closure 32 to its horizontal position, loop 68 is grasped and pulled to break the attraction between permanent magnet 42 and insert 38 and closure 32 is lowered into its horizontal position with support 48 pivoted and oriented to rest the lower ends thereof against a floor surface. Projections 76 serve as stops for uppermost crossbar 56 and prevent any overcenter movement of support 48 when disposed in its bar supporting position as shown in FIG 4. Thus. closure 32 forms a horizontal serving bar upon which beverages or other edibles can be prepared and served.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the present invention fully accomplishes its intended objects. As a result of this invention, an improved wall cabinet is provided which is self-concealing and occupies little or no room space when not in use. The cabinet closure together with the decorative support conceals the presence of the cabinet, which may store liquor and other beverages, and presents the appearance of an attractive wall plaque. When lowered, the closure rests on the decorative support and can be utilized as a serving platform or bar.

A preferred embodiment of this invention having been described in detail, it should be understood that this has been done by way of illustration only and that modifications thereof may be made without departing from the broad spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. A wall cabinet comprising: an upright enclosure adapted to be installed in a wall recess; said enclosure comprising a compartment having an opening facing away from said wall recess; a frame bordering said opening; a closure for covering said opening; means mounting said closure for pivotal movement between an upright collapsed position of rest against said frame in which said closure covers said opening and a horizontal extended position away from said frame; means releasably securing said closure in said collapsed position; means for supporting said closure in its extended position and comprising a pair of spaced, parallel legs and at least two crossbars secured to and extending between said legs; means for pivotally mounting said supporting means on said closure adjacent the distal end thereof on the side of said closure away from said opening; said pivotally mounting means comprising a pair of laterally spaced brackets having projections extending outwardly from said closure away from said opening and terminating in curved hinge portions for receiving one of said crossbars; the other of said crossbars projecting above said hinge portions; said projections extend generally normal to said closure and serve as stops against which said other crossbar abuts for preventing over-center movement of said supporting means in its closure supporting position.

2. A wall cabinet according to claim 1 wherein said supporting means includes bars formed into a decorative configuration.

3. A wall cabinet according to claim 1 together with a relatively small cabinet secured within said enclosure at one end thereof and terminating rearwardly of said opening.

4. A wall cabinet according to claim 1 wherein said securing means comprises a magnetic insert mounted on said closure adjacent the free end thereof on the side of said closure facing said opening and a permanent magnet secured to said frame for attracting said closure insert.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS RE. 23,996 5/1955 Sieminski 10848 D. 140,702 3/1945 Twente 3l2314UX 1,441,670 l/l923 Egner 312-235 1,597,036 8/1926 Harris et a1. 312235X 1,709,927 4/1929 Whitney 108l8 2,547,808 4/1951 Burrage 3l2242X 2,633,179 3/1953 Smith 3l2242X 3,016,563 1/1962 De Jong 16l35UX PAUL R. GILLIAM, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 312241 

